Duality

Duality

9 English
Honors

What is Duality?

Duality is a concept usually depicted with a yin and yang.

Duality is the constant existence and conflict between two
opposing forces. These forces can either complement or destroy
each other, depending on their ability to co-exist.

This can be expressed in many ways:

Good vs Evil

Fate vs Free Will

Light vs Darkness

Mind vs BodyGood Self vs Bad Self

Open Ended

What other opposite forces can you think of?

Example: Good vs Evil; Light vs Dark

Chiaroscuro

Chiaroscuro is a classic art
technique which highlights the
contrast between dark and light.

How can light shine bright
without darkness to surround it?

Duality in History

Duality has been around since the beginning of
literature.

Gilgamesh, the oldest piece of literature,
written in 2000 B.C. is about a King, Gilgamesh
- a man of the city who is sophisticated and
wise, who travels with his exact opposite,
Enkidu - a man of the country who is rough and
ignorant.

Duality in History

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Written in 1886, the story centers around a
doctor who has an experiment that goes
wrong. He ingests a potion that turns him into
a horrible monster, leaving him with no
memory of what he has done. Slowly, Mr. Hyde
begins to take over the personality completely.

Duality Now

The Hulk

Bruce Banner, caught in a blast of gamma
radiation, finds he turns into the Hulk whenever
he gets mad.

“The secret is, I’m always angry.” - Avengers

Open Ended

Can you name any other characters that have 2 distinct sides to them?

Any with an alter ego?

Frankenstein
Connection

How does this connect to Frankenstein?

Mary Shelley, with her use of the frame structure, makes it very difficult to
pinpoint who is the protagonist. We, as the audience, listen to both Victor and
the Creature and view the world through their eyes. We sympathize and
criticize them both.

And when they speak, it is very difficult to differentiate between Victor and the
Creature. Both are articulate. Both focus on nature. Both seek knowledge.

Frankenstein
Connection

Open Ended

Why do you think the creators of the Frankenstein play decided to have the actors playing Victor Frankenstein and the Creature switch back and forth?

Doppelganger

Doppelgänger

Doppelganger is a german word for “look-alike” or “double-walker”. It often
referred to a shadow of a person, or a ghost.

It also could refer to an “evil twin”.

It is the idea that somewhere in the universe is someone that looks exactly like
us, but that is opposite in every way.

Draw

Draw your Evil Twin Here. What would they be like?

Foil

Foil

A foil is a character who contrasts with
another character, usually the
protagonist, in order to highlight the
qualities of the other character.

Often, like Duality, they are two
characters that mirror each other, and the
conflict cannot be resolved by anyone
else.

Open Ended

What are the similarities between Victor Frankenstein and the Creature? Be specific.

Open Ended

Look back on the moment Victor Frankenstein created the creature. How did Victor Frankenstein see that moment? How did the Creature? How did your opinion of that moment change once you heard from the Creature?

Fundamentally, Frankenstein asks what it means to be a monster. Is the monster the Creature or Victor Frankenstein? Regardless, neither can survive without the other which ultimately leads to the ruin of both.

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​So Why?